Oscar picks
February 24, 2007 by thinking girl
Well, I haven’t had a chance to see most of the Oscar films this year, unfortunately for me. A couple years ago, my friend and I went to see all of the Oscar movies we could cram into a week (I think it was something like 8), and then had an Oscar party at her place. It was really fun, and we thought we were sure who was going to win, but neither of us was right on all our categories - there were some surprises that year.
Anyway, in the spirit of Oscar, here are my picks/best educated guesses for tomorrow night’s show (don’t worry, I won’t bore you with all the technical categories, just the big ones):
Best Actor - The Nominees are:
- Leonardo di Caprio - Blood Diamond
- Ryan Gosling - Half Nelson
- Peter O’Toole - Venus
- Will Smith - The Pursuit of Happyness
- Forrest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
My pick: Leonardo di Caprio. This is the only movie I’ve seen in this category, but I think this makes the most sense in Oscar-land. Leo’s been nominated a couple of times before and lost, most recently for the Aviator a couple years back, which he kind of should’ve won for instead of Jamie Foxx IMO. So, I’m guessing that maybe this year, he’ll take it. But I could be wrong. My second pick is Forrest Whitaker, ’cause everyone says he was amazing in this role. Who I’d like to see win: Ryan Gosling, because I love him!
Best Actress: The Nominees are:
- Penelope Cruz - Volver
- Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
- Helen Mirren - The Queen
- Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
- Kate Winslet - Little Children
My pick: Helen Mirren. I didn’t see this one yet, either, but my god, this woman is totally on a roll this year with this movie. And it’s about time she got recognized for her work, she’s an incredibly sophisticated actress. Judi Dench and Meryl Streep already have their fair share of Oscars, and the other two actresses, while both great, were both in those movies that the Academy nominates just because they want to pretend they care about independent film. My second pick is Penelope Cruz, jsut because you never know. Who I’d like to see win: Penelope Cruz. Go Latina!
Best Supporting Actor - the Nominees are:
- Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
- Jackie Earle Haley - Little Children
- Djimon Hounsou - Blood Diamond
- Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
- Mark Wahlberg - The Departed
My pick: Djimon Hounsou, because he totally deserves it. He was amazing in this movie, the Academy is into political movies lately, and I think he deserves this recognition. He is so talented. My second pick is Mark Wahlberg, because he kind of stole the show in The Departed. Who I’d like to see win: Djimon Hounsou.
Best Supporting Actress - The Nominees are:
- Adriana Barrazza - Babel
- Cate Blanchett - Notes on a Scandal
- Abigail Bresslin - Little Miss Sunshine
- Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
- Rinko Kikuchi - Babel
My pick: Jennifer Hudson. This one’s tough, because most of these women are little-known actresses. Cate just won in this category a couple years back for The Aviator, so I don’t know if they’re going to be ready to show her the money again this quickly. The little one from Mis Sunshine was adorable, but I don’t think she’ll take it. My second pick is Adriana Barrazza. Who I’d like to see win: Rinko Kikuchi.
Best Director - the Nominees are:
- Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu - Babel
- Martin Scorsese - The Departed
- Clint Eastwood - Letters from Iwo Jima
- Stephen Frears - The Queen
- Paul Greengrass - United 93
My pick: Martin Scorsese. He’s been nominated about 8 times now and hasn’t won a single Oscar yet. He always seems to lose to actors turned directors. And while he is up against Clint AGAIN this year (lost to him two years ago (Clint: Million Dollar Baby, Martin: The Aviator), and also in the early 90s (Clint: Unforgiven, Martin: Goodfellas), poor guy!), but this year, Martin is taking it home. My second pick is Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, because I liked what he did with Babel. Who I’d like to see win: Martin Scorsese.
Best Picture - the Nominees are:
- Babel
- The Departed
- Little Miss Sunshine
- Letters from Iwo Jima
- The Queen
My pick: Babel. It just makes sense, and carries on the tradition of Crash from last year - political movie about race and culture colliding. Simple. My second pick is The Departed, because it really was just so good. What I’d like to see win: Little Miss Sunshine, because it made me laugh out loud the whole time. It’s very dear to my heart, that little movie.
So there you have it. On a final note, I think that the Costume Design category is going to be a really tight race this year, all the costumes were just so beautifully done for the films that are nominated. (My pick is Marie Antoinette, for the record.)
Tomorrow, we shall see if I’m right on any of these! Please feel free to make your own Oscar predictions in the comment section, and do join me back here on Monday to discuss the outcomes!
hello thinking girl, just dropped by to check out the latest entry in your blog. I admire your thinking… there are so few of us left. peace.
Chris - hi there! Thanks for stopping in, and for the compliment. I think you’re right, unfortunately - there are too few of us around.
TG.
Well, this morning I’m very happy for those whom I guessed (and knew) should win:
-Jennifer Hudson
Anyone who couldn’t say that she deserved her Oscar must be a cold, dead-inside person. After her knock-’em-dead performance in “Dreamgirls’, all I could say is that she had “Oscar” written all over her role.
And I was right.
Helen Mirren was a shoe-in for her Oscar. Her’s did not surprise me.
Matin Scorcese.
A no-brainer. As far as I was concerned, he was the perennial “always a bride’s maid, never a bride” favorite.
Plus the Academy felt that he was looooooooong overdue to join the prestigious group of director’s who’ve given us many unforgettable films.
Best Oscar Actor.
I would have thrown a fit if anyone other than Forrest Whitaker won.
The man is an under-rated, and under-appreciated actor of enormous talents, humility and skills.
It was high-time he was recognized with the highest honor his peers could bestow on him.
Well, Oscar night was long as usual.
But, I was not going to miss seeing some more history made.
My congratulations on all who won, and especially to Jennifer and Forrest.
Well done, you two!
Until next year.
Ciao babies!
It’s been real!
Hi Anne - you know, none of the winners really surprised me, except Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine - I really thought Djimon Hounsou would win that one. And, I did kind of feel bad for Peter O’Toole - the guy’s been around a long time, nominated a bunch of times, and never won. And it kind of looks like he’s on his last legs, so this might have been his last chance.
I didn’t see Last King of Scotland, and didn’t really know anything about it, but Forrest Whitaker is an incredible actor. I also think he’s a shoo-in for an Emmy this year for his performances on ER this season. He was incredible!
on second thought, I was kind of surprised that Babel didn’t take Best Picture. But, The Departed was my second pick, so there you go. maybe the Hollywood set doesn’t like reading subtitles.
“[Whitaker] is an under-rated, and under-appreciated actor of enormous talents, humility and skills.” Amen to that!
Although I haven’t seen most of the nominees, I must admit that really would have like “Children of Men” to have won at least one of the two sound awards. The use of sound, in that movie, to bring you into the fray was something else.
Ack, I watched Babel the other night and was surprised at how bad that movie was…I think Brad Pitt had about 50 lines in the whole movie…. and it was so strange how they focused more on the Japanese sex crazed teenager’s life story than the actual event…I was truly disappointed with it.
Although, I was glad to see The Departed win Best Picture…such an interesting, yet not predictable movie…
Dave - check out the discussion about the movie Babel here.
I actually liked it alright, it didn’t bother me at all that the story flitted back and forth between the 4 storylines. I find it refreshing to get that perspective, that eveyone has their own story, instead of focusing on a western-centric storyline all the time.